Electric switch



' Feb. 2U, 1923. v

.C. D. PLATT.

ELECTRIC SWITCH.

FILED OCT. 29.1918.

CLARENCE D. lPLATT, OIF BRIDGEIIPORT, CONNECTICUT.

ELECTRIC SWITCH.

Application filed October 29, 1918.

' To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, CLARENCE lD. PLATT, a citizen of the United States of America, residing at Bridgeport, Connecticut, .have invented a new and useful Electric Switch, of which the following isa specification.

My present invention relates to key operated switches of the push button type.

The objects of the invention are to provide a practical and desirable switch of this type in simple and inexpensive form.

A further and special object is to eliminatethe danger of electric shock upon the insertion of the operating key.

Briefly stated, the invention may be said to reside in the combination with the pivoted switch operating rocker, of plungers connected with Said rocker and working in tubular guides provided for the purpose, said guides being closed at their outer endsto the passage of said plungers but provided with key openings thereiny for admission of a key into engagement with the ends of the plungers. In a preferred construction, the plungers "are made ofinsulating material and therefore in addition to their function as an i operating connection between the inserted key and rocker, they provide means`- for insulating the key from the current carrying portions of the switch. i

The accompanying drawings' illustrate the switch embodied in one practical form, but it will be understood that desired changes and modifications may be made without departure from the scope of the invention.

In said drawings:

I `ig. 1 is a plan View of the switch constructed in accordance with and embodying features of the invention.

Fig. 2 is a longitudinal sectional view of the same taken substantially on the plane of the linef2-2 of Fig. l.

Referring to said drawings now in detail: 'Ilie switch base, designated 7, is shown as of the usual hollow construction designed to be supported by a bridge or yoke 8. 'Ihe switch mechanism per se in the form of construction illustrated is like that disclosed and claimed in my 'Patent #1,218,890 of March 13th, 1917, and requires no further description here other than to point out that it consists generally of a swinging lever 9 designed to engage the contacts 10 and ar'- ranged to be snapped in opposite directions through a spring connection 11 from the rocker or switch operating lever 12.

Serial No. 260,081.

Connected with the ends of the rocker are the two plungers o-r operating stems l3-l4,'the engagement of said plungers with the rocker being such as to permit of a substantially straight up and down movement of the plungers during the oscillating movement of the rocker, a connection suitable for such purpose being that disclosed in my patent above mentioned.

Tubular guides l5-16 are provided for the plungers 13 14, said guides in the present instance being supported on and carried by the yoke-piece 8. 'Ihese tubular guides are closed at their outer or exposed ends against passage of the plungers, but are provided with key-slots 17 therein for admission of a suitable operating key 18. The plungers have a loose sliding lit in the `guidesiprovided therefor and the closed outer ends of the guides prevent exposure of the plungers and guard against access to said plungers except through the medium of a key designed` for the purpose. These relatively closedouter ends'of the ides may be formed' as escutcheon plates, substantially as indicated in the drawings.

In the form of the invention illustrated, the'ro'cker is in electrical connection with the contact making lever, and hence, carries current. To uard against .injury which might result rom a flow of current from said rocker to the key in the hands of an operator, Il construct the plungers in this form ofswitch of suitable insulating material such as hard molded composition. This absolutely prevents thepassage of current from the rocker to the key, to the guides, or to the yoke or face plate which usually covers the switch parts.

I claim:

In a key actuated switch of the push button type, a body member, ,a pivoted rocker onsaid vbod member, plungers of insulating materia in operative engagement with said rocker and adapted to actuate the latter for making and breaking a circuit, tubular guides for said plungers, said guides being rigidly supporte-d from said body member and having their outer ends closed against passage of said plungers, said guides having their outer ends provided withopenings of irregular shape for the reception of a key for engaging the plungers and actuat-l ing the rocker.

CLARENCE D. PLAT'I. 

